Sept. 27, 2019 Log# 19-24 For Immediate Release

Six Soldiers win championship titles during 2019 Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The sixth annual Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament was conducted Sept. 14 at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus. With over 65 competitors participating in the double-elimination tournament, champions were crowned in six weight divisions. The competition tested the hand-to-hand combat techniques taught and practiced through the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP), which trains Soldiers how to protect themselves in close quarters battle against threats using a nonlethal response and without firearms. The MACP draws from martial arts and combat sports including wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, sambo, Muay Thai, and boxing. Following a full morning and early afternoon of preliminary and semifinal matches, the mid- afternoon championship bouts determined the best in each division. The top three placers in each weight division earned gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively, with each champion getting a title belt that they retain until next year’s competition. The 2019 weight class champions are: • Lightweight division (males 140 lbs. and under; females 150 lbs. and under) Rank/Name: Sgt. Martin Cruz Unit: Company B, 837th Engineer Battalion, St. Marys Hometown: Cleveland

• Welterweight division (males 141-155 lbs.; females 151-166 lbs.) Rank/Name: Spc. Anthony Skulina (has won four consecutive welterweight titles) Unit: 296th Engineer Detachment, Mansfield Hometown: Streetsboro

• Middleweight division: (males 156-170 lbs.; females 167-182 lbs.) Rank/Name: Capt. Jonas Bray Unit: Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Columbus Hometown: Wilmington

• Cruiserweight division: (171-185 lbs.; females 183-198 lbs.) Rank/Name: Spc. Grant Blumenthal Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, Walbridge Hometown: Twinsburg

• Light heavyweight division: (186-205 lbs.; females 199-219 lbs.) Rank/Name: Spc. Nickolai Timbs Unit: 211th Maintenance Company, Newark Hometown: West Salem

• Heavyweight division: (206 lbs. and up; females 220 lbs. and up) Rank/Name: Spc. Sean Dinan Unit: 838th Military Police Company, Youngstown Hometown: Wellsville

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EDITOR’S NOTE: High resolution photos to support this release are available on the Defense Video Imagery Distribution Site (DVIDS). Click on photos under the “Connected Media” section, located on the right-hand side of the page. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stephanie Beougher, public information officer, at 614-336-7369 or [email protected].

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